Cy Young Profile: Tom Seaver, 1975

 Pitcher, New York Mets

Age:  30

9^th season with Mets

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195

 

Prior to 1975:

A native of Fresno, California, Seaver started in Little League at age 9 as a pitcher/outfielder. Performing well in high school, he moved on to Fresno City College, where he won 11 straight games in his second year and transferred to USC. In his first season at USC Seaver was 10-2 with 100 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched. He was selected by the Braves in the 1966 amateur draft. The Braves signed him while his college season was in progress, which was in violation of major league rules. Commissioner William Eckert voided the contract and allowed three teams, the Mets, Indians, and Phillies, to participate in a lottery for Seaver since they were willing to match the $51,500 offer made by the Braves. The Mets won the lottery. Seaver was assigned to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AAA International League and compiled a 12-12 record with a 3.13 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 210 innings pitched in ‘66. Seaver advanced to the perennially-losing Mets in 1967. He posted a 16-13 record with a 2.76 ERA and received NL Rookie of the Year as well as All-Star recognition. Seaver followed up with another solid season in 1968, going 16-12 with a 2.20 ERA and again gaining All-Star recognition. With the Mets undergoing a transition that would pay dividends in another year, Seaver was joined in the pitching rotation by rookie LHP Jerry Koosman, to good effect. Seaver and the Mets prospered in 1969 as the club won the NL East in the first year of divisional play in the major leagues and went on to win the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. Seaver contributed a 25-7 record with a 2.21 ERA and 208 strikeouts. In a July game against the Cubs, the chief division rival, Seaver took a perfect game into the ninth inning, only to end up with a one-hit shutout. The team’s primary leader and motivator, he added two more wins in the postseason and received the NL Cy Young Award in addition to placing second in league MVP voting. In 1970 Seaver tied the then-major league record with 19 strikeouts in a game against San Diego, the last 10 in succession. He went on to compile an 18-12 record while leading the NL in both ERA (2.82) and strikeouts (283). The Mets placed third in the NL East and Seaver finished seventh in voting for the NL Cy Young Award. He again led the NL with a 1.76 ERA and 289 strikeouts in 1971 while posting a 20-10 tally with the 83-79 Mets. The perfectionist pitcher known as “Tom Terrific” or “The Franchise”, with his excellent fastball and slider, continued to excel in 1972, going 21-12 with a 2.92 ERA and 249 strikeouts for an 83-73 club that finished last in NL team batting (.225). He tied for fifth in NL Cy Young voting. In 1973 the Mets rode a September surge to win the NL East with an 82-79 tally. Seaver went 19-10 with a league-leading 2.08 ERA, 251 strikeouts, and 18 complete games, and received his second NL Cy Young Award. He further contributed the NLCS-clinching win against Cincinnati to give the Mets the league pennant. He was 0-1 in the seven-game World Series loss to the Oakland A’s. Seaver was rewarded with a $172,000 contract that made him the highest-paid pitcher at the time but was dogged by shoulder and hip pain in 1974 and dropped to an 11-11 record with a 3.20 ERA and 201 strikeouts over 236 innings pitched. He missed being an All-Star for the first time in his career

 

 

1975 Season Summary

Appeared in 37 games

P – 36, PR – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 36

Games Started – 36 [7, tied with Bill Bonham & Randy Jones]

Complete Games – 15 [3, tied with Jerry Reuss]

Wins – 22 [1]

Losses – 9

PCT - .710 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 5 [4]

Innings Pitched – 280.1 [3]

Hits – 217 [19, tied with Steve Carlton]

Runs – 81

Earned Runs – 74

Home Runs – 11

Bases on Balls – 88 [11, tied with Steve Rogers]

Strikeouts – 243 [1]

ERA – 2.38 [3]

Hit Batters – 4

Balks – 1

Wild Pitches – 7

 

League-leading wins were +2 ahead of runner-up Randy Jones

League-leading strikeouts were +28 ahead of runner-up John Montefusco

 

Midseason Snapshot: 13-5, ERA – 1.93, SO – 137 in 163 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 8.1 IP) vs. Philadelphia 6/29

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) at San Diego 6/15, (in 9 IP) vs. Montreal 8/7, (in 7.1 IP) vs. San Francisco 8/17, (in 10 IP) at Chi. Cubs 9/24

 

Batting

PA – 111, AB – 95, R – 7, H – 17, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 8, SO – 24, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .179, GDP – 2, HBP – 1, SH – 7, SF – 0

 

Fielding

Chances – 68

Put Outs – 21

Assists – 43

Errors – 4

DP – 6

Pct. - .941

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

NL Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

All-Star

9^th in NL MVP voting (65 points, 19% share)

 

NL Cy Young Voting (Top 4):

Tom Seaver, NYM.: 98 pts. – 15 of 24 first place votes, 82% share

Randy Jones, SD: 80 pts. – 7 first place votes, 67% share

Al Hrabosky, StL.: 33 pts. – 2 first place votes, 28% share

John Montefusco, SF: 2 pts. – 2% share

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Mets went 82-80 to finish third in the NL Eastern Division, 10.5 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates while the pitching staff led the league in strikeouts (989). In a tumultuous season, manager Yogi Berra was replaced in August by Roy McMillan. They pulled as close as four games out of first on Labor Day before settling into third as September continued.

 

Aftermath of ‘75:

1976 was a relative down year for Seaver in which he produced a 14-11 record for the light-hitting Mets with a respectable 2.59 ERA and NL-leading 235 strikeouts. Seaver became embroiled in a contract dispute with board chairman M. Donald Grant that became highly publicized in the media and led to his being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for four players in the so-called “Midnight Massacre” in June of 1977. Seaver was 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA at the time of the deal and finished up the year with a 21-6 record and 2.58 ERA and 196 strikeouts, tying for third in NL Cy Young balloting. He followed up with a 16-14 tally in 1978 with a 2.88 ERA and 226 strikeouts. Battling injuries in 1979 Seaver went 16-6 with a 3.14 ERA and 131 strikeouts for the division-topping Reds. Arm trouble limited him to 168 innings in 1980 and a 10-8 record with a 3.64 ERA and 101 strikeouts. He bounced back to 14-2 with a 2.54 ERA in the strike-interrupted 1981 season and placed second in NL Cy Young Award voting. Suffering from a respiratory infection during spring training in 1982, Seaver’s record dropped to a dismal 5-13 with a 5.50 ERA for the last-place Reds, with a sore shoulder finishing his season in August. In the offseason, the 38-year-old fading star was traded back to the Mets. The result was a 9-14 mark in 1983 with a 3.55 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 231 innings pitched. He changed teams again in the ensuing offseason when the Chicago White Sox took him as a free agent compensation selection. He spent two ordinary years with the White Sox, producing a 15-11 record with a 3.95 ERA in 1984 and going 16-11, including his 300^th career win, in ‘85 with a 3.17 ERA. During the 1986 season he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox, who were on the way to their first pennant since 1975, where his long career came to an end.  Overall for his major league career, Seaver compiled a 311-205 record with a 2.86 ERA and 3640 strikeouts in 4783 innings pitched. He pitched over 250 innings ten times and reached 200 strikeouts also on ten occasions, leading the NL five times. With the Mets Seaver was 198-124 with a 2.57 ERA and 2541 strikeouts. He was a 12-time All-Star (9 with the Mets) and won three Cy Young Awards (all with the Mets). In the postseason Seaver was 3-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 61.2 innings pitched. The Mets retired his #41 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 by receiving 98.84 % of votes cast (a record at the time). He died in 2020 at age 75.

 

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league. 

Rookie of the Year: Tony Oliva, 1964

Outfielder, Minnesota Twins

Age:  26 (July 20)

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 175

 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Cuba, Pedro Oliva II learned baseball from his father in rural Pinar del Rio province. After initially playing for a neighborhood team, he was signed by the Twins in 1961. Using his brother Antonio’s birth certificate to obtain a passport, he came to be called “Tony” rather than his given name. Held up by visa problems in arriving at Minnesota’s rookie camp, Oliva hit well in his first tryout but looked too unpolished in the outfield and was released. An opening was found with Wytheville of the Class D Appalachian League where he encountered linguistic and cultural difficulties. He batted .410 with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, and 81 RBIs in 64 games, but still had difficulty defensively, where he nevertheless impressed with a strong throwing arm. A teammate helped with teaching him English. Moving on to Charlotte of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1962, he hit .350 with his picturesque swing along with 35 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, and 93 RBIs. He was called up to the Twins for a September audition and batted .444 in nine games. With Dallas-Fort Worth of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1963, Oliva hit .304 with 30 doubles, 8 triples, 23 home runs and 74 RBIs, earning another late season call-up to the Twins. He managed three hits in seven pinch-hitting at bats. Initially anticipated to be a reserve outfielder, he made the Twins to stay in 1964 and was quickly installed in right field.

 

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 161 games

RF – 154, CF – 9, LF – 2, PH – 2

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 719 [3]

At Bats – 672 [2]

Runs – 109 [1]

Hits – 217 [1]

Doubles – 43 [1]

Triples – 9 [3, tied with Carl Yastrzemski & Jim Fregosi]

Home Runs – 32 [6, tied with Bob Allison]

RBI – 94 [9, tied with Pete Ward]

Bases on Balls – 34

Int. BB – 8 [11, tied with Dick McAuliffe, Woodie Held & Bob Chance]

Strikeouts – 68

Stolen Bases – 12 [11, tied with Ed Charles & Don Buford]

Caught Stealing – 6 [8, tied with Chuck Hinton, Chico Salmon & Mike Hershberger]

Average - .323 [1]

OBP - .359 [17]

Slugging Pct. - .557 [3]

Total Bases – 374 [1]

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 6 [9, tied with six others]

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 3

 

League-leading runs scored were +8 ahead of runner-up Dick Howser

League-leading hits were +23 ahead of runner-up Brooks Robinson

League-leading doubles were +2 ahead of runner-up Ed Bressoud

League-leading batting average was +.006 ahead of runner-up Brooks Robinson

League-leading total bases were +55 ahead of runner-up Brooks Robinson

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 19, HR - 18, RBI - 51, AVG - .335, OBP - .367, SLG – .582

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 5/2 – 11 innings, (in 4 AB) at KC A’s 5/3, (in 5 AB) vs. LA Angels 5/7, (in 5 AB) at Boston 9/20

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 5/2 – 11 innings, (in 5 AB) vs. LA Angels 5/7, (in 4 AB) at Baltimore 6/29, (in 5 AB) vs. Boston 9/4

HR at home – 17

HR on road – 15

Multi-HR games – 4

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. LA Angels 5/7

Pinch-hitting – 1 of 2 (.500)

 

Fielding

Chances – 324

Put Outs – 313

Assists – 5

Errors – 6

DP - 0

Pct. - .981

 

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL in RF)

4^th in AL MVP voting (99 points, 35% share)

 

 

AL ROY Voting:

Tony Oliva, Min.: 19 of 20 votes, 95% share

Wally Bunker, Balt.: 1 vote, 5% share

 

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The Twins went 79-83 to finish tied for sixth in the AL with the Cleveland Indians, 20 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in runs scored (737), home runs (221), RBIs (707), OBP (,322, tied with Boston), slugging (.427) & total bases (2395). The heavy-hitting Twins were done in by pitching problems and defensive deficiency, particularly in the infield.

 

 

Aftermath of ‘64:

Oliva followed up on his outstanding rookie season by winning another batting title in 1965. He overcame a slow start and hand and knee injuries to finish up at .321. He again topped the circuit in hits with 185 and contributed 40 doubles, 16 home runs, and 98 RBIs as the Twins won the AL pennant. Oliva placed second in league MVP voting to his teammate and fellow Cuban, shortstop Zoilo Versalles. But he produced only a .192 average in the seven-game World Series loss to the Dodgers. Failing in his bid for a third straight batting title in 1966 due to a September slump, Oliva still placed second to Baltimore’s Triple Crown-winning Frank Robinson with a .307 average. He topped the circuit in hits again with 191, of which there were 32 doubles, 7 triples, and 25 home runs. He also totaled 99 runs scored and 87 RBIs. The right fielder who had originally been a poor fielder also was awarded a Gold Glove. Aggressive at the plate, he developed a reputation as an outstanding “bad ball” hitter. Dealing with nagging injuries in 1967 Oliva hit .289 with a league-leading 34 doubles, along with 6 triples, 17 home runs, and 83 RBIs while the Twins came up short in a wild pennant race. In the pitching-dominated 1968 season, Oliva again batted .289 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs. Having already missed time due to a leg injury, his season ended at the end of August as the result of a separated shoulder. Oliva returned to form in 1969 by hitting .309, leading the AL with 197 hits and 39 doubles. He also compiled 24 home runs and 101 RBIs. In this first season of division play in major league baseball, the Twins topped the AL West and Oliva batted .385 in the three-game ALCS loss to Baltimore. In 1970 he again led the league in hits (204) and doubles (36) to go along with 23 home runs, 107 RBIs, and a .325 batting average. For the second time in his career he placed second in AL MVP voting. Having already endured two surgeries on his right knee thus far, in 1971 Oliva was hobbled by an injury suffered while making a defensive play that limited him to 126 games and necessitated further surgery in September. He still won his third AL batting title by hitting .337 along with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs. Still hindered by the injury, Oliva appeared in only ten games in 1972 and found himself in left field when he played. His bat was still potent as he batted .321 in his brief action. The Designated Hitter rule provided Oliva with a new role in 1973 and he batted .291 with 16 home runs and 92 RBIs while never taking the field. As a DH and pinch-hitter in 1974 he had four four-hit games and batted .538 (7 for 13) as a pinch-hitter on his way to season totals of .285 with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs. Following a similar season in 1975, Oliva had two more knee surgeries and returned as a player/coach in 1976, his last year, in which he saw most of his action as a pinch-hitter. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Twins, Oliva batted .304 with 1917 hits that included 329 doubles, 48 triples, and 220 home runs. He further scored 870 runs and compiled 947 RBIs, 86 stolen bases, and a .353 on-base percentage. Appearing in 13 postseason games, he hit .314 with three home runs and five RBIs. A three-time batting champ, Oliva was also an eight-time All-Star and finished in the top ten in league MVP balloting five times. He topped the AL in hits five times and doubles on four occasions. An inaugural member of the Twins Hall of Fame, the club retired his #6 and a statue was placed in his honor at Target Field. He served as a coach and hitting instructor for the Twins. With his playing career done at age 38, Oliva accomplished much in a comparatively brief time.

 

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

Revised 8/19/24

Cy Young Profile: Orel Hershiser, 1988

 Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  30 (Sept. 16)

5^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190

 

Prior to 1988:

Born in Buffalo, New York, Hershiser moved with his family to Toronto, Canada and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Following his graduation from Cherry Hill East High School, where he was an All-Conference pitcher as a senior, Hershiser moved on to Bowling Green State University. As a junior in 1979, he pitched a no-hitter on his way to a 6-2 record. Selected by the Dodgers in the June amateur draft, he signed and was assigned to Clinton of the Class A Midwest League where he went 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 43 innings pitched. Hershiser spent 1980 and ’81 with San Antonio of the Class AA Texas League where he was utilized primarily as a reliever and posted a 5-9 tally with a 3.55 ERA and 14 saves in 1980 and 7-6 with a 4.68 ERA, 15 saves, and 95 strikeouts in 1981. Still a reliever with the Albuquerque Dukes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1982, Hershiser appeared in 47 games (7 of them starts) and was 9-6 with a 3.71 ERA and 93 strikeouts. With Albuquerque again in 1983, he appeared in 49 games (10 starts) and posted a 10-8 mark with a 4.09 ERA and 16 saves. Receiving a September call-up to the Dodgers, Hershiser appeared in eight games and had no decisions and a 3.38 ERA. He stuck with the Dodgers in 1984 as a long reliever who was moved into the rotation in June due to injuries and compiled an 11-8 tally with a 2.66 ERA and four shutouts among his 8 complete games, as well as a string of 33.2 consecutive scoreless innings. He placed third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The Dodgers won the NL West in 1985 and Hershiser improved to 19-3 with a 2.03 ERA and 157 strikeouts while completing 9 games, 5 of them shutouts, to establish himself as LA’s new ace. He also placed third in league Cy Young balloting. The mild-mannered, but tenacious, pitcher was nicknamed “Bulldog” by manager Tommy Lasorda, who wanted to encourage his toughness on the mound. The Dodgers dropped in the standings in 1986 and Hershiser posted a 14-14 record with a 3.85 ERA and 153 strikeouts. He was a .500 pitcher again in 1987 at 16-16 with a 3.06 ERA and 190 strikeouts while accumulating a league-leading 264.2 innings. He was also an All-Star for the first time. With a sinker, fastball, curve, and changeup, Hershiser maintained his effectiveness in the rotation.

 

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in 36 games

P – 35, PH – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 34 [4, tied with eight others]

Complete Games – 15 [1, tied with Danny Jackson]

Wins – 23 [1, tied with Danny Jackson]

Losses – 8

PCT - .742 [3, tied with Danny Jackson]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 8 [1]

Innings Pitched – 267 [1]

Hits – 208 [12]

Runs – 73

Earned Runs – 67

Home Runs – 18 [12, tied with Rick Sutcliffe, Kevin Gross & Nolan Ryan]

Bases on Balls – 73 [12]

Strikeouts – 178 [7]

ERA – 2.26 [3]

Hit Batters – 4

Balks – 5 [20, tied with six others]

Wild Pitches – 6

 

League-leading shutouts were +2 ahead of runners-up Danny Jackson & Tim Leary]

League-leading innings pitched were +6.1 ahead of runner-up Danny Jackson

 

Midseason Snapshot: 13-4, ERA - 2.62, SO - 92 in 140.2 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) at Montreal 8/30

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Houston 6/29

 

Batting

 

PA – 105, AB – 85, R – 1, H – 11, 2B – 2, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 1, SO – 18, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .129, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 19 [1], SF – 0

 

Fielding

Chances – 98

Put Outs – 32

Assists – 60

Errors – 6

DP – 6

Pct. - .939

 

Postseason Pitching:

G – 6 (NLCS vs. NY Mets – 4 G; World Series vs. Oakland – 2 G)

GS – 5, CG – 3, Record – 3-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 1, ShO – 2, IP – 42.2, H – 25, R – 7, ER – 5, HR – 0, BB – 13, SO – 32, HB – 2, BLK – 0, WP – 3, ERA – 1.05

MVP: NLCS & World Series

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

Gold Glove

All-Star

6^th in NL MVP voting (111 points, 33% share)

 

NL Cy Young voting:

Orel Hershiser, LAD: 120 pts. – 24 of 24 first place votes, 100% share

Danny Jackson, Cin.: 54 pts. – 45% share

David Cone NYM: 42 pts. – 35% share

 

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Dodgers went 94-67 to finish first in the NL Western Division by 7 games over the Cincinnati Reds. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (32), shutouts (24), and saves (49). The revamped Dodgers, benefiting from the presence of strong pitching, led by Hershiser who finished off the regular season with a record 59 consecutive shutout innings, and a deep bench, won with regularity and took control of the NL West race in August and September. Won NLCS over the New York Mets, 4 games to 3. The series turned on LF Kirk Gibson’s 12^th inning home run that capped a dramatic Game 4 win in which Hershiser relieved and recorded a save. Hershiser also started the climactic Game 7 and pitched a shutout. Won World Series over the Oakland Athletics, 4 games to 1. The injured Kirk Gibson sparked the underdog Dodgers with a dramatic pinch home run that won Game 1. Hershiser started and won Games 2 and 5, which proved to be climactic, to receive Series MVP honors.

 

Aftermath of ‘88:

Despite a fine 2.31 ERA in 1989, Hershiser’s record dropped to 15-15 with the offensively challenged Dodgers, who scored only 17 runs in his 15 losses. He was still an All-Star and led the NL in innings pitched for the third consecutive year with 256.2. His heavy workload resulted in a shoulder injury that required reconstructive surgery in 1990, limiting him to just four starts. He returned to action in May of 1991 and over the course of 21 starts compiled a 7-2 mark with a 3.46 ERA. He was back up over 200 innings in 1992 and went 10-15 with a 3.67 ERA. In 1993 Hershiser registered a 12-14 tally with a 3.59 ERA and 141 strikeouts over 215.2 innings pitched. In the strike shortened 1994 season, he was 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, the Dodgers wanted him to retire at age 36 and become a non-playing member of the organization. Feeling he could still pitch effectively, he signed with the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland topped the AL Central and advanced to the World Series in 1995 while Hershiser put together an 11-2 second half run on the way to a 16-6 overall record with a 3.87 ERA. He was the MVP of the ALCS triumph over Seattle thanks to a 2-0 mark and 1.29 ERA and was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in the World Series loss to Atlanta. The Indians were division champs again in 1996 and Hershiser went 15-9 with a 4.24 ERA. He was 14-6 with a 4.47 ERA for pennant-winning Cleveland in 1997 despite spending time on the disabled list due to a stiff back. He was badly roughed up in the World Series loss to the Florida Marlins. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the San Francisco Giants for 1998 and produced an 11-10 record with a 4.41 ERA. Moving on to the New York Mets in 1999, he compiled a 13-12 tally with a 4.58 ERA as the Mets made it to the postseason as a Wild Card entry. Hershiser returned to the Dodgers in 2000 at age 41 and was 1-5 with a 13.14 ERA when he was let go in late June, thus ending his career. For his major league career, he posted a 204-150 record with a 3.48 ERA, 68 complete games, 25 shutouts, and 2014 strikeouts over 3130.1 innings. With the Dodgers he was 135-107 with a 3.12 ERA, 65 complete games, 24 shutouts, and 1456 strikeouts over 2180.2 innings. Appearing in 22 postseason games, Hershiser went 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 132 innings. A three-time All-Star, he received votes in Cy Young Award voting four times, including the one win. A decent hitting pitcher, he was awarded a Silver Slugger in 1993. He also received one Gold Glove for his fielding prowess. Following his playing career, he went into broadcasting and was also pitching coach for the Texas Rangers from 2002-05. He has also been successful at playing poker in major competitions.

 

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

Rookie of the Year: Lou Whitaker, 1978

Second Baseman, Detroit Tigers

Age:  21 (May 12)

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 160

 

Prior to 1978:

Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Virgina, Whitaker began playing organized baseball at 10. At Martinsville High School, he pitched and played in the infield. The Tigers selected him in the fifth round of the 1975 amateur draft as a third baseman. Initially assigned to Bristol of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, Whitaker displayed a positive attitude and impressive potential while batting .237 in 42 games. Moving up to Lakeland of the Class A Florida State League in 1976 he hit .297 and was chosen as league MVP. The Tigers decided to shift Whitaker to second base and pair him with shortstop prospect Alan Trammell during the ensuing Fall Instructional League season. The two became roommates and close friends as well as a fine keystone combination. In 1977 the duo played for Montgomery of the Class AA Southern League and Whitaker batted .280 and was selected to the league All-Star team. Given a late-season call-up to the Tigers he hit .250 in eleven games. Whitaker and Trammell took over at their respective positions in Detroit’s lineup in 1978.

1978 Season Summary

Appeared in 139 games

2B – 136, DH – 2, PH – 7, PR – 4

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 567

At Bats – 484

Runs – 71

Hits – 138

Doubles – 12

Triples – 7 [11, tied with six others]

Home Runs – 3

RBI – 58

Bases on Balls – 61

Int. BB – 0

Strikeouts – 65

Stolen Bases – 7

Caught Stealing – 7

Average - .285

OBP - .361 [20, tied with Lou Piniella, Ron LeFlore & Don Money]

Slugging Pct. - .357

Total Bases – 173

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 13 [13, tied with Bob Randall & Robin Yount]

Sac Flies – 8 [9, tied with five others]

 

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 2, HR – 0, RBI – 21, SB – 6, AVG - .317, , OBP - .358

 

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Most hits, game – 3 on eight occasions

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 4 AB) vs. Seattle 7/28, (in 4 AB) at Chi. White Sox 8/13, (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 9/20

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 1

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 on six occasions

Pinch-hitting/running – 3 of 6 (.500) with 2 R, 1 BB & 1 RBI

 

Fielding

Chances – 776

Put Outs – 301

Assists – 458

Errors – 17

DP - 95

Pct. - .978

 

Awards & Honors:

AL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

 

AL ROY Voting:

Lou Whitaker, Det.: 21 of 28 votes, 75% share

Paul Molitor, Mil.: 3 votes, 11% share

Carney Lansford, Cal.: 2 votes, 7% share

Rich Gale, KC: 1 pt. – 1 vote, 4% share

Alan Trammell, Det.: 1 vote, 4% share

 

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Tigers went 86-76 to finish fifth in the AL Eastern Division, 13.5 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees.

 

Aftermath of ‘78:

The Detroit fans were quick to take up the “Looou” chant whenever Whitaker came to bat and he followed up with another solid performance, at bat and in the field, in 1979, batting .286 with 8 triples and 20 stolen bases while cutting his errors to 9. Whitaker had an off-year at the bat in 1980, hitting just .233, although his fielding percentage was a solid .985 and he committed just 12 errors. Hindered by a leg injury during the strike-interrupted 1981 season, “Sweet Lou” batted .263 with 5 home runs and 36 RBIs. Whitaker experienced a power surge in 1982 as his home runs rose to 15 to go along with 8 triples and 65 RBIs while he moved into the leadoff spot by midseason. In the field he led all AL second basemen with 470 assists, 120 double plays, and a .988 fielding percentage. The Tigers finished second in the AL East in 1983 while Whitaker was an All-Star for the first time on his way to hitting .320 with 206 hits, 40 doubles, 12 home runs, and 72 RBIs. He also received his first Gold Glove for his defensive excellence. Detroit won the division and the AL pennant in 1984 with Whitaker contributing a .289 average along with 90 runs scored, 13 home runs, and 56 RBIs. He hit .278 in the five-game World Series triumph over the San Diego Padres. In spring training of 1985 manager Sparky Anderson flirted with the idea of shifting Whitaker to third base, which he later reconsidered. “Sweet Lou” got off to a fast start during the season and was batting .368 by mid-May before tailing off and finishing at .279 with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs. In 1986 he hit .269 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs. The Tigers returned to the top of the AL East in 1987 and Whitaker contributed 110 runs scored, 38 doubles, 6 triples, 16 home runs, and 59 RBIs to go along with a .265 batting average and .341 OBP. A knee injury suffered while dancing with his wife at an anniversary party limited Whitaker to 115 games in 1988 and a .275 average with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs. Batting third with the last-place Tigers in 1989, Whitaker slugged a career-high 28 home runs while batting .251 with 85 RBIs. He hit more for power than average in 1990, ’91, and ’92 and his playing time dropped off in 1993, ’94, and ’95, after which he retired. For his major league career, spent entirely with Detroit, he batted .276 with 2369 hits that included 420 doubles, 65 triples, and 244 home runs. Whitaker also scored 1386 runs and compiled 1084 RBIs and 143 stolen bases. Appearing in 13 postseason games, he hit .204 with one home run. A five-time All-Star, Whitaker also received three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. Among the franchise leaders in all-time defensive categories at second base, he finished first in double plays by participating in 1527. He and Alan Trammell ended up playing together in a total of 1918 games.

 

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

 

Cy Young Profile: Gaylord Perry, 1972

 Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

Age:  34 (Sept. 15)

1^st season with Indians

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 205

 

Prior to 1972:

A native of Williamston, North Carolina, Perry played football and basketball as well as baseball in high school. He started out as a third baseman who began pitching in tandem with his older brother Jim (who also went on to have a long major league career) with great success (he compiled a high school record of 33-5). After high school he signed with the San Francisco Giants for a $60,000 bonus. He was first assigned to St. Cloud of the Class C Northern League in 1958, where he was 9-5 with a 2.39 ERA. He had a more difficult time in 1959 with Corpus Christi of the Class AA Texas League, compiling a 10-11 record with a 4.05 ERA. Perry was back in the Texas League in 1960, this time with the Rio Grande Valley Giants. His record was a mediocre 9-13, but he led the league with a 2.82 ERA. He moved on to Tacoma of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1961, where he was outstanding with a 16-10 tally and a 2.55 ERA. Making it to the Giants in 1962 as a reliever and spot starter, Perry struggled and was 1-6 with a 6.25 ERA when he was sent down to Tacoma in June. Back in the PCL, Perry was 10-7 with a 2.48 ERA. His fastball was highly effective, and he returned to the Giants, who were locked in a hot pennant race with the Dodgers. He ended up posting a 3-1 major league record with a 5.23 ERA. In 1963 with the Giants, he was a seldom-used reliever who appeared in 31 games, four of them starts, and went 1-6 with a 4.03 ERA. Following a strong Dominican League performance in the winter, Perry learned how to throw a spitball during the spring from RHP Bob Shaw. The illegal pitch was in wide use and Perry developed it along with a slider to supplement his fastball and curve. Appearing in 44 games in 1964 (19 of them starts) he was 12-11 with a 2.75 ERA and 155 strikeouts. In 1965, still utilized as a starter and reliever, Perry dropped to 8-12 with a 4.19 ERA and 170 strikeouts. In 1966, having adjusted from a three-quarters pitching motion to straight over-the-top, he added a hard slider to his repertoire (in addition to his regular slider) and moved firmly into the starting rotation. He delivered a 21-8 record with a 2.99 ERA and 201 strikeouts. He was also an All-Star selection for the first time. His ERA was 2.61 in 1967 although his record dropped to 15-17 with 230 strikeouts. By this point he had added an elaborate ritual of hand motions to distract from how he was applying foreign substances to the ball to throw the spitball. In 1968 Perry’s record was only 16-15 despite a 2.45 ERA that included a no-hitter against the pennant-winning Cardinals (whose RHP Ray Washburn returned the favor the next day). Now part of an effective one-two punch with RHP Juan Marichal, the staff ace, Perry continued in 1969 with a 19-14 record and 2.49 ERA with 233 strikeouts. He also compiled 26 complete games and a league-leading 325.1 innings pitched. Routinely checked by umpires for foreign substances, he remained highly effective and unsanctioned. Perry had a big year in 1970, as he added a forkball to his repertoire, in which he went 23-13 to lead the NL in wins, along with a 3.20 ERA and 214 strikeouts. He again topped the circuit with 328.2 innings pitched that included 23 complete games and 5 shutouts. The Giants won the NL West in 1971 and Perry contributed a 16-12 mark with a 2.76 ERA and 158 strikeouts. He was 1-1 in the only postseason action of his career. In the offseason Perry was dealt to the Cleveland Indians along with shortstop Frank Duffy for LHP Sam McDowell.

 

1972 Season Summary

Appeared in 41 games

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 41

Games Started – 40 [4, tied with Tom Bradley]

Complete Games – 29 [1]

Wins – 24 [1, tied with Wilbur Wood]

Losses – 16 [7, tied with Stan Bahnsen, Nolan Ryan & Jim Perry]

PCT - .600 [10, tied with Mike Cuellar]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 5 [7, tied with Jim Hunter]

Innings Pitched – 342.2 [2]

Hits – 253 [5]

Runs – 79

Earned Runs – 73

Home Runs – 17 [17, tied with Fritz Peterson, Sonny Siebert & Jim Lonborg]

Bases on Balls – 82 [8, tied with Rudy May]

Strikeouts – 234 [3]

ERA – 1.92 [2]

Hit Batters – 12 [2]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 11 [3, tied with Wilbur Wood]

 

League-leading complete games were +6 ahead of runner-up Mickey Lolich

 

Midseason Snapshot: 16-8, ERA - 1.73, SO - 139 in 213.1 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 7.2 IP) at Texas 5/2

10+ strikeout games – 6

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) vs. Baltimore 8/1

 

Batting

PA – 131, AB – 110, R – 5, H – 17, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 9, BB – 5, SO – 43, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .155, GDP – 2, HBP – 1, SH – 14, SF – 1

 

Fielding

Chances – 81

Put Outs – 18

Assists – 61

Errors – 2

DP – 7

Pct. - .975

 

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

All-Star

6^th in AL MVP voting (88 points, 26% share)

 

AL Cy Young voting (Top 5):

Gaylord Perry, Clev.: 64 pts. – 9 of 24 first place votes, 53% share

Wilbur Wood, ChiWS: 58 pts. – 7 first place votes, 48% share

Mickey Lolich, Det.: 27 pts. – 3 first place votes, 23% share

Jim Hunter, Oak.: 26 pts. – 2 first place votes, 22% share

Jim Palmer, Balt.: 20 pts. – 2 first place votes, 17% share

 

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Indians went 72-84 to finish fifth in the AL Eastern Division, 14 games behind the division-winning Detroit Tigers. Due to a players’ strike in April that delayed the start of the season and caused 86 games to be cancelled. The Indians started strong and were leading the AL East with an 18-10 record on May 23. They slumped badly thereafter, losing 41 of 58 games prior to the All-Star break. The club went 36-33 the rest of the way to finish respectably.

 

Aftermath of ‘72:

Perry went 19-19 for the last-place Indians in 1973 with a 3.38 ERA, 29 complete games, and 238 strikeouts. Allegations of throwing illegal pitches continued to follow Perry, who seemed to embrace the controversy and the psychological effect on opposing batters. He had a strong season in 1974, the same year in which he released Me and the Spitter, An Autobiographical Confession in which he claimed to no longer be using the illegal pitch, which did not allay the suspicions. He compiled a 21-13 record in ’74 that included a 15-game winning streak. The 1975 season was highlighted by feuding with new manager Frank Robinson. He had a 6-9 record when he was traded to the Texas Rangers in June. He finished with a combined tally of 18-17 with a 3.24 ERA and 233 strikeouts while still completing 25 games, five of them shutouts. In 1976 he went 15-14 with a 3.24 ERA and 143 strikeouts while pitching 250 innings and completing 21 games. In 1977 the Rangers finished a surprising second in the AL West and the 38-year-old Perry was 15-12 with a 3.37 ERA and 177 strikeouts over 238 innings. Seeking an infusion of youth, the Rangers traded Perry to the Padres just prior to spring training in 1978. Perry produced a 21-6 record for the Padres with a 2.73 ERA and 154 strikeouts. He received the NL Cy Young Award as a result. He followed up in 1979 with another solid season in which he posted a 12-11 record with a 3.06 ERA and 140 strikeouts. However, he feuded with manager Roger Craig and, never one to tolerate defensive miscues, publicly berated the poor defensive play behind him. Desiring to be traded, Perry quit the club in September and got his wish just prior to spring training in 1980 when he was dealt back to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Willie Montanez. Perry started 24 games for the Rangers, battled with another manager (Pat Corrales) and was 6-9 with a 3.43 ERA when he was traded to the New York Yankees in August. He went 4-4 the rest of the way with a 4.44 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the Atlanta Braves for 1981 and was 8-9 during the strike-interrupted season with a 3.94 ERA. He signed with the Seattle Mariners for 1982 and compiled a 10-12 record that included his 300^th career win, along with a 4.40 ERA. He was also ejected from a game for allegedly throwing illegal pitches for the only time in his long career. He split the 1983 season between Seattle and the Kansas City Royals, posting a combined record of 7-14 with a 4.64 ERA, after which he retired. Overall for his major league career, Perry was 314-265 with a 3.11 ERA and struck out 3534 batters over 5350 innings pitched. He further hurled 303 complete games that included 53 shutouts. With the Indians he went 70-57 with a 2.71 ERA and 773 strikeouts over the course of 1130.2 innings. A five-time All-Star who won a Cy Young Award in each league, Perry was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. His #36 was retired by the San Francisco Giants.

 

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

Rookie of the Year: Chris Sabo, 1988

 Third Baseman, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  26

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 185

 

Prior to 1988:

A Detroit native, Sabo played hockey and golf, in addition to baseball, at that city’s Catholic Central High School. Moving on to the Univ. of Michigan, Sabo was a standout on the baseball team from 1981-83. In 1983 he was a first team All-American selection by The Sporting News and Baseball America. Chosen by the Reds in the second round of the 1983 amateur draft, he was first assigned to Cedar Rapids of the Class A Midwest League where he hit .274 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs over the course of 77 games. He also stole 15 bases and played a solid third base. Advancing to Vermont of the Class AA Eastern League in 1984 he batted just .213 with 19 doubles, 5 home runs, and 38 RBIs. Defensively he topped the league’s third basemen with 236 assists. With Vermont again in 1985, Sabo raised his average to .278 and hit 11 home runs with 46 RBIs. He again led the circuit’s third basemen in assists (236). Moving up to the Denver Zephyrs of the Class AAA American Association in 1986, he batted .273 with 26 doubles, 10 home runs, and 60 RBIs. Blocked by star third baseman Buddy Bell in Cincinnati, Sabo remained in the American Association in 1987, this time with the Nashville Sounds. He endured an injury-filled season, but still excelled by hitting .292 in 91 games with 19 doubles, 7 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases, earning team MVP recognition. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at season’s end and was considered a longshot to make the Reds in 1988, impressing the organization with his solid work ethic that allowed him to get the most out of the skills he had. Having made the club as a utility infielder during spring training, Sabo took over at third base when Bell went down with a knee injury.  

 

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in 137 games

3B – 135, SS – 2, PH – 3, PR -1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Batting

Plate Appearances – 582

At Bats – 538

Runs – 74

Hits – 146

Doubles – 40 [3]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 11

RBI – 44

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 52

Stolen Bases – 46 [4, tied with Otis Nixon]

Caught Stealing – 14 [4, tied with Darryl Strawberry, Gerald Perry & Mitch Webster]

Average - .271

OBP - .314

Slugging Pct. - .414

Total Bases – 223

GDP – 12

Hit By Pitches – 6 [12, tied with Kevin Bass & Mike Schmidt]

Sac Hits – 5

Sac Flies – 4

 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 32, HR – 10, RBI – 35, SB – 28, AVG - .312, SLG - .524

 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 6/18, (in 7 AB) vs. St. Louis 8/27 – 14 innings

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 1 on eleven occasions

HR at home – 8

HR on road – 3

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Atlanta 4/22, at Pittsburgh 5/15 – 12 innings, vs. NY Mets 7/19

Pinch-hitting/running – 0 of 2 (.000) with 1 BB, 1 R & 2 SB

 

Fielding

Chances – 407

Put Outs – 75

Assists – 318

Errors – 14

DP - 31

Pct. - .966

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

All-Star

 

NL ROY Voting (Top 5):

Chris Sabo, Cin.: 79 pts. – 11 of 24 first place votes, 66% share

Mark Grace, ChiC.: 61 pts. – 7 first place votes, 51% share

Tim Belcher, LAD: 35 pts. – 3 first place votes, 29% share

Ron Gant, Atl.: 22 pts. – 1 first place vote, 18% share

Roberto Alomar, SD: 11 pts. – 2 first place votes, 9% share

 

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Reds went 87-74 to finish second in the NL Western Division, 7 games behind the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The slow-starting Reds spent most of the season in fourth place until an 18-9 September rally pulled them up to second.

 

Aftermath of ‘88:

With his short, military-style haircut, and aviator goggle glasses, the down-to-earth and ever-hustling Sabo quickly developed into a fan favorite, drawing comparisons to Pete Rose, the legendary player and current manager. He was nicknamed “Spuds” due to his resemblance to Spuds MacKenzie, a dog who appeared in beer commercials at the time. A knee injury cut his season short in 1989, limiting him to 82 games and a .260 average with 21 doubles, 6 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. The Reds topped the NL West in 1990 and went on to win the World Series. The line-drive hitting Sabo contributed a surprising 25 home runs along with 95 runs scored, 38 doubles, 71 RBIs, and a .270 batting average. He also batted .563 in the stunning World Series sweep of the Oakland A’s. Cincinnati dropped to fifth in 1991 but Sabo, playing on two bad knees, had another fine season, hitting .301 with 26 home runs and 88 RBIs, while performing well in the field. A sprained ankle hindered Sabo in 1992 and his production dropped off to .244 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs while appearing in 96 games. He followed up with a solid season in 1993 in which he batted .259 with 33 doubles, 21 home runs, and 82 RBIs. A free agent in the offseason, Sabo signed with the Baltimore Orioles for the 1994 season. Encountering injury problems during the strike-shortened season, he was replaced at third base by Leo Gomez and moved on to the Chicago White Sox in 1995. Released by the White Sox in June and signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, who released him in September, Sabo hit a combined .238 for the year while appearing in just 25 games. He returned to the Reds in 1996 and batted .256 in his final season. For his major league career, Sabo batted .268 with 898 hits that included 214 doubles, 17 triples, and 116 home runs. He scored 494 runs and accumulated 426 RBIs and 120 stolen bases. With the Reds the totals were .270 with 812 hits, 443 runs scored, 193 doubles, 14 triples, 104 home runs, 373 RBIs, and 116 stolen bases. In ten postseason games he hit .368 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. A three-time All-Star, Sabo was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2010. Following his playing career, he served as an instructor in the Reds organization. He is currently head coach at the Univ. of Akron.

 

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league.